autosuggestion
LowFormal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The process of influencing one's own thoughts, feelings, or behaviour through conscious repetition of ideas or statements to oneself.
A psychological technique, often used in self-help or hypnotherapy, where an individual deliberately implants specific thoughts or affirmations in their own mind to bring about desired changes in attitude, behaviour, or physical state.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Closely related to concepts like self-hypnosis, affirmation, and positive thinking. It implies a deliberate, conscious process rather than subconscious influence. The term has specific historical roots in the Coué method.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling, pronunciation, or meaning differences. Usage is equally technical/formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily associated with psychology, self-help, and alternative therapy contexts. May carry a slightly dated or niche connotation compared to more common terms like 'affirmations'.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects. 'Self-suggestion' is a rare variant.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] uses/practises autosuggestion to [infinitive phrase].The [effect] was achieved through autosuggestion.Autosuggestion involves [gerund phrase].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts of leadership training or performance coaching, e.g., 'Using autosuggestion to build confidence before a pitch.'
Academic
Used in psychology, history of medicine, and cognitive science texts to describe specific therapeutic techniques or historical practices.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. More likely in discussions about self-improvement, meditation, or alternative therapies.
Technical
Core term in hypnotherapy, certain psychotherapeutic traditions, and literature on the Coué method. Precisely defined.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The autosuggestion technique proved remarkably effective.
- He followed an autosuggestion regimen every morning.
American English
- She used an autosuggestion protocol to manage stress.
- The book outlined various autosuggestion methods.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He learned about autosuggestion in a self-help book.
- Some people use autosuggestion to feel more confident.
- The therapist explained that consistent autosuggestion could rewire negative thought patterns.
- Through daily autosuggestion, she managed to reduce her anxiety before public speaking.
- The historical study traced the influence of Coué's method of conscious autosuggestion on early 20th-century psychotherapy.
- Critics argue that the purported effects of autosuggestion may be largely attributable to the placebo response.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AUTO (self) + SUGGESTION (an idea) = suggesting ideas to YOURSELF. Think of your mind as an auto-pilot you can program with suggestions.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A PROGRAMMABLE MACHINE (you input commands/suggestions). THE SELF IS BOTH SPEAKER AND LISTENER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'аутосуггестия' in general contexts; 'affirmation' or 'self-hypnosis' may be more natural. The term is a direct loanword but has a narrower, more technical scope in English.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'subliminal suggestion' (which is external and subconscious). Misspelling as 'auto-suggestion' (hyphen is archaic). Using it as a verb ('to autosuggest' is non-standard).
Practice
Quiz
Which field is most closely associated with the technical use of 'autosuggestion'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Autosuggestion is a more formal, deliberate technique of repeating specific phrases to oneself, often used in therapeutic settings. Positive thinking is a broader, more general attitude.
While generally considered safe for self-improvement, uncritical autosuggestion that ignores serious medical or psychological conditions can be detrimental by delaying proper professional treatment.
The French pharmacist Émile Coué in the early 1900s, famous for the phrase 'Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better.'
No, 'to autosuggest' is not a standard verb. Use phrases like 'to use autosuggestion', 'to practise autosuggestion', or 'to employ autosuggestion' instead.
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